3 more Israeli hostages’ bodies recovered from Gaza

Three more Israeli hostages’ bodies were recovered from Gaza, according to a Friday announcement from Israel. 

The Israeli military said Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum and Orion Hernandez were killed during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that left approximately 1,200 people dead.

All three hostages were abducted to the Gaza Strip by Hamas, according to a Friday post on the social platform X.

All three of the bodies were rescued during a joint Israeli military and intelligence operation in Jabalia, a city in the northern part of Gaza. The bodies were found overnight and were brought back to Israel, according to the military. 

“We will continue operating to bring all of our hostages back home,” the military said Friday. “May their memory be a blessing.” 

Israel launched a military operation in Jabalia two weeks ago.

The development comes less than a week after Israel said the bodies of three other hostages were found. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that his country has a “national and moral duty” to return all of the hostages. Israel said about 100 of the 250 hostages taken on Oct. 7 are still being kept in the Gaza Strip. 

Netanyahu, who is dealing with domestic pressure to leave his post as the war has dragged on for more than seven months, has vowed to eradicate Hamas and bring back all of the hostages.

The U.S., one of Israel’s closest allies, has warned Netanyahu of diminishing support for the country’s military operation in Gaza. At least 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed during the war, according to officials with the Hamas-run health ministry.